Be happy while in the process of achieving your goals
The concept of success is different for everyone. For some people, success means creating a masterpiece that will last throughout the ages. For others, success is discovering a breakthrough in science or technology that will change the world. These are just a few of the many accomplishments people work towards to achieve the coveted success.
Whatever your definition of success is, there are certain things you need to realize before you can achieve it.
The truth is, there’s A LOT of bad advice out there. And because there’s so much information on the internet, it can be hard to discern…
“The first step is usually, I know who I am not. Process of elimination. Defining ourselves by what we are not is the first step that leads us to really knowing who we are.” — Matthew McConaughey
I was a real good kid— I did everything that my parents asked. Growing up, I got good grades, played in the school band, and even lectured at church.
I went to college, got two degrees, and graduated with honors.
Yet throughout this whole process, there was this underlying feeling that I was missing something; a feeling that I never really knew myself. It always seemed like I was going through the motions for someone else, while I put my own ambitions on the back burner.
I failed to realize that you have to please yourself before others.
It took…
“The Earth is what we all have in common.”
The locals warned us not to attempt it in one day; to get to the river, camp out, and make it a two-day trip.
Even the national park website warned against it. But as stubborn 20 something year-olds, we set out to prove them wrong.
This past week my backpacking buddy and I hiked the South Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon. At 16.5 miles with almost a mile of elevation loss and gain, it was the most strenuous hike I’ve ever done and one I will not soon forget.
Below are the map and elevation of…
Implement these tips to produce better work in less time.
There is a subliminal epidemic going on right now and few realize it. The inability to focus isn’t just making us less productive, it’s contributing to the plethora of mental health issues plaguing society. In this day and age, the average attention span is a mere 8 seconds!
We all have the capacity to focus, it’s in our neural programming to focus solely on fleeing when a saber tooth tiger comes at us. But let’s face it, survival today as we know it, even with its stressors, is much easier than in prehistoric times.
“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” — Albert Camus
Most people never embrace their differences.
The fear of criticism prevents them from rising to their true potential. It goes without saying we are a herd species. We like to be a part of a group and we usually follow the group's beliefs. If we have any question about whether our friends, family, or society will disapprove of our behavior we immediately shut the idea down in our heads.
Most of the time, there's nothing morally wrong with our ideas, but because we’re afraid of how they will be recieved, we don’t pursue them. …
“The Sage holds in his embrace humility, and manifests it to all the world…It is because he is thus free from striving that therefore no one in the world is able to strive with him.” — Lao Tzu
Have you ever witnessed a male lion in his natural habitat? He sleeps most of the day, conserving energy. Only when there is the opportunity to mate or if another male invades his territory will the king of the pride move from his sloth.
He doesn’t think about food, yet food is brought by the female lions. He acts only when necessary. No movement is wasted; not a step is taken in vain. From this, we can derive that nature does not strive, it only acts when the time is right.
Non-action is evident in plants too. The tree stocks…
Say goodbye to your stress with these simple ways
“Thank God I have the day off,” I think to myself as I sip a hot cup of matcha in an attempt to ease my headache. I’m usually pretty good about regulating my stressors, but this week was jam-packed with work and I neglected to find the time.
Thankfully, it is a cold, rainy day which gives me some time to chill out and reflect. I’m currently sitting at my bedroom desk with the windows cracked listening to the light drizzle of rain along with the chirping of birds. …
Every conversation is a negotiation; an opportunity to show your self-worth.
I was never a confident person.
I never went out of my way to talk to girls and refrained from putting myself in uncomfortable positions. I kept mostly to myself.
But then I realized that this is the 21st century we live in and if you want to be anybody you have to have the confidence to go out and get what you want.
I’m all for being humble. Humble people generally have better self-control, are more compassionate, and easier to get along with. I also think it's obnoxious to constantly show off wealth or status. …
“You are not the pain you feel or the part that periodically stresses out. When your consciousness is separate and aware of these things, you can free yourself. Simply permit the disturbances to come up, and you can let them go.” — Michael A. Singer
Luke Skywalker had his demons. If you notice in most of Return of the Jedi, he is clothed in black. This is because he was on the verge of succumbing to the dark side.
It's easy to see why he has this temptation. Luke’s plate of shit just gets more filled as the trilogy progresses. First, the last of his family (that he knows at the time) is killed in Tatooine. Next, his mentor Obi-Wan is struck down by Vader and he feels responsible for it. And then, his hand is sliced off — by his own father.
He has…
Have you ever been so engrossed in something that it felt like time was standing still?
Have you ever been so engrossed in something that it felt like time was standing still?
You had no judgment or thoughts about what you were doing, you were just completely immersed in the moment.
During that span, it probably felt like you had unlimited potential and capabilities.
But the question lies in how do we remain in this state of abundance?
Every great artist, scientist, and writer understands that their best work is derived from a higher power. …
Jesse Pedersen
Helping people find happiness while exploring nature and spreading compassion; check out my music — Spotify @Jesse Pedersen; Instagram: @Jesse__Pedersen
